Michelle Obama – First African American Lady

Michelle Obama – A Success in Her Own Right – The Michelle Obama Bio

The wife of Democratic Candidate Senator Barack Obama, Michelle Obama is her own success story. Listed in 2006 among “25 of the World’s Most Inspiring Women” by Essence magazine, she followed up in 2007 with Vanity Fair magazine nominating her as one of the “Worlds Ten Best Dressed People.” Also in 2007, Michelle Obama entered “The Harvard 100″ ranking 58th on a list of the prior year’s most influential Harvard alumni; her husband Barack was ranked fourth. She also keeps good company, having made two campaign appearances with Oprah Winfrey (at the time of writing this).

Michelle Obama was born on 17 January, 1964 in Chicago Illinois, her mother Marian a former secretary, and her father Fraser Robinson, a city water plant employee and Democratic precinct captain. Michelle was raised in a conventional home, along with her brother Craig, who is 16 months older. Craig is also a success story in his own right, with a history in mens basketball – he is currently Oregon State Beavers mens basketball coach. Michelles upbringing was led by her father, who had high morals and levels of expectations, which she has carried with her to date.

She attended Whitney M Young Magnet High School in Chicago and then went on to Princeton University; in 1985 she graduated with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in African American studies. After Princeton, she continued her education at Harvard Law School, earning her law degree in 1988.

After law school, Michelle worked for three years as an associate in the field of marketing and intellectual property at the Chicago law firm Sidley and Austin. There she was assigned to work with the only other African American, a summer associate from Harvard, one Barack Obama. Michelle left the corporate law world in 1991 to pursue a career in the public service, working as an assistant to the Mayor of Chicago, and then as the Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development for the City of Chicago.

In 1992 Michelle married Barack Obama and they now have two daughters, Malia born in 1999, and Natasha born in 2001. In 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization that helps young adults develop skills for careers in the public sector.

Michelle served as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago In 1996, where she developed the Universitys first Community Service Program. In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as an Executive Director for Community Affairs, and then as Vice President for Community and External Affairs. She now works this position part-time, to enable her to have more time to devote to her family.

In May 2007, three months after her husband declared his Presidential Candidacy, Michelle Obama reduced her professional responsibilities by eighty percent. In true lawyer style, Michelle reportedly negotiated an agreement in which her husband gave up smoking in exchange for her support in his presidential campaign. She has accepted the role of aspiring First Lady, and travels the country alongside her husband giving speeches and attending events, making sure she is not away from her daughters for too long. Michelle has been described as focused, tough, steely, and has a sharp sense of humor.

Life for both Barack and Michelle Obama has changed for ever. Now they will always be in the sights of mischief makers who, for example, paint good Christians as Muslims in blatant and shameful propaganda. Secret Service protection is now a way of life, with Michelle having her own dedicated team, as they face the fears of extremist action.

Michelle Obama compliments her husband well; she is naturally competitive, intelligent, does not take things for granted and has a direct, practical approach toward politics. She likes to keep things calm, keeping Barack focused, with his feet firmly planted on the ground; she displays a determined passion for his campaign. However, Michelle Obama does have her weaknesses, especially a gift for sarcasm, and her firebrand spirit may yet prove a two-edged sword. But as a team, they do tend to compliment each other, and I wish them well in the face of those opposed to the change the whole world needs so badly.

Source: Ezinearticles.com